Building happiness at work and home

By Adelina Riddick, in All Communities

Schell Brothers has been proudly building homes for 20 years. Our employees wholeheartedly believe in our product and our company’s mission of creating happiness. 1 out of 4 Schell employees proudly lives in a Schell Brothers home. Read on to hear all about Zach’s experience building happiness at work and home.

What made you choose to work for Schell?

My Uncle Matty has worked for Schell Brothers for 16 years so I grew up around the company and fell in love with the culture. The homes we build are beautiful but it’s the people who work here and the sense of family that has always pulled me here. When Schell came to Richmond and my timing was right, I hopped aboard!

How many years have you been with the company?

Coming up on 4 years!!

What is your favorite thing about working for Schell?

The people. Like any job, there are good days and bad days, but it’s the team around me that makes this place so special. They celebrate the good times and pull me up during the bad times. I have met some lifelong friends working here. Obviously, the events are amazing as well! What other job has beach days, beer pong tournaments, a live skit show? You always know there is something fun right around the corner.

What has been your favorite volunteer opportunity?
Two years ago we had the opportunity to build a playground for a young boy with cancer. People from the Richmond and Delaware Divisions met up and spent the day working together to surprise this little boy and his sister. The look on his face when he came outside is a memory I will always keep with me, there wasn’t a single person who wasn’t emotional watching him jump up and down and run over to his new playground. It was a very special moment and something I hope we can do again soon!

Why did you pick a Schell community? What is your favorite thing about living in a Schell community?
River Mill fits our family and lifestyle perfectly. There are sidewalks throughout the neighborhood and trails that run along the banks of the Chickahominy River which we walk just about every day. There’s a pool, clubhouse and playground which my two boys love and there are family friendly events during the spring and summer almost every week. The location is great, being only 10 minutes from downtown Richmond and about 20 minutes from Short Pump Town Center. It is also close to both my mom and sister which is a big plus! Overall the neighborhood is very active and friendly which is exactly what we were looking for a place to call home.

How was your home building experience?

It was awesome! We were definitely a bit nervous going into it with this being our first time purchasing a home but everyone was so patient and friendly, it made the process very smooth. It was really cool getting to build with Schell because our construction manager and sales rep were both people I consider to be close friends and our designer was my uncle. They shared in our excitement and were always very easy to get in contact with since I always knew exactly where to find them :). Tabby and I have been playing around on the online design studio for years building our dream home but its different going in with your budget in mind. Matty was able to take all of our ideas and budget and design us a home which we are still amazed by every morning that we wake up.

What is your favorite thing about your home and why?

Collectively I would say our Screen Porch. It doesn’t matter how hot or cold it is, we are outside on that porch every day. Tabby would probably say our Owners Bathroom. The colors make it feel very peaceful and calming and we added in the free standing tub which she has always wanted. Mine would probably be the garage. I have never had a garage before so just having a place to put all of our stuff and to park the car in during the winter is such a luxury.

Favorite memory while working for Schell?

I have so many great memories working for this company it is hard to choose just one. I remember my first sales meeting, how out of place and nervous I felt walking in. But by the time that first meeting was over, I had already warmed up to my coworkers and I knew I had found a very special group of people. Of course, I remember my first Turkey Bowl, intercepting Dan Mattas pass before halftime and then spiking the ball in front of him… good times. But one of my most recent experiences might be the most special. I had been working with this woman and her husband for over a year and they were never able to secure the homesites they wanted before they were purchased by someone else. Her husband unfortunately passed away and his last wish was that she move on and live her life to the fullest. We had a home that was close to completion suddenly become available and it was the exact floorplan and options that she wanted. I gave her a call and after making it official she broke down and cried in my arms and told me how thankful she was to be able to build with our company and live in a neighborhood where she can start the next chapter of her life. I feel like we truly made a major impact on her life and that’s why we do what we do.

What floor plan did you choose and why?

The Heather. We love to host so the open concept was exactly what we were looking for. We have two young boys so being on the same floor as them was very important to us. The main living space is surrounded by windows so during the day our home is filled with natural light which is amazing.

As a local who is in the know, where can we find you on a Friday night? 

We are definitely foodies and the great thing about Richmond is that the food scene has really taken off over the last few years. Our favorites spots right now are Yaya’s cookbook, which is home to some of the areas best Asian Street Food, L’Opossum, which serves modern French cuisine with a southern twist and was named best restaurant in the south by Southern Living Magazine in 2018, and Fall Line which is a fairly new restaurant in downtown Richmond which also specializes in southern cooking and has some of the best fried chicken I have ever had.

Building happiness at work and home

By Adelina Riddick, in All Communities

Schell Brothers has been proudly building homes for 20 years. Our employees wholeheartedly believe in our product and our company’s mission of creating happiness. 1 out of 4 Schell employees proudly lives in a Schell Brothers home. Read on to hear all about Ashley’s experience building happiness at work and at home.

What made you choose to work for Schell?

Prior to working for Schell I was working for Verizon Wireless but had a degree in Accounting- I was ready to put my degree to use and a friend of mine sent me the job listing. At the time I lived in Dover and I wasn’t sure about the 45-minute commute at first but after a few conversations with Doug, The Director of Finance at Schell Brothers, I could immediately tell that this company was different and decided it would be worth it. I had actually just accepted an offer with a different company but when Doug (finally) called and made the job offer it was a no-brainer, I’m so glad I chose Schell.

How many years have you been with the company?

Just over 4 years!

What is your favorite thing about working for Schell?

The people, definitely. Not just because they’re kind and fun- although that makes for a great work environment- but because the people who work for Schell are incredibly talented and hard-working. It truly feels like a big team working towards a common goal even though we all have different departments.

What has been your favorite volunteer opportunity?
Schellville, easily! I loved driving the train and working in the Snack Shack last year but all the jobs are fun- people are so happy and grateful.

Why did you pick a Schell community? What is your favorite thing about living in a Schell community?
We knew early on that we would want to move to the beach but that my husband’s job would always be in Dover so he would have a bit of a commute when we moved here we wanted to find a community that would work for his drive and Welches Pond was perfect. We’re one of the first homes there but we’ve already met some great neighbors and we’re excited to attend our first happy hour at the model to get to know some more people!

How was your home-building experience?

Our home-building experience was amazing. The first person I got to meet with was Jordan Fruehauf, I already knew what community and model I wanted but she asked me some questions and helped me customize our floor plan to what would work best for our family. Karen Ryan was our designer and I was so excited to work with her- she has two boys as we do and I felt like she definitely understood what was important to us in our design decisions- I used the online design studio to find pictures of what I wanted and Jordan had already told us what tiers we wanted to stay in based on our budget. We aren’t the most “handy” people and this was our first time building a home. Scott Kincaid was our construction manager and was a huge help in making decisions when we were unsure. He took a ton of pictures to put in Heartbeat and kept us updated throughout the process.

What is your favorite thing about your home and why?

For me, it’s the kitchen. It’s been so fun to entertain and the storage space is incredible.

Favorite memory while working for Schell?

Definitely the girls office trip to Park City… the entire thing was just so much fun and I loved getting to know people better that I don’t get to work with directly on a regular basis.

What floor plan did you choose and why?

The Kingfisher. I knew I wanted the boys to have their own space upstairs and loved that we could finish the bonus room and add a bathroom so our parents (or other guests) could have their own space when they come to visit. A basement was a non-negotiable for us and the finished space is so nice for the kids to run around with their cousins and burn some energy or for a family movie night. It really just fits our family perfectly.

As a local who is in the know, where can we find you on a Friday night? 

We haven’t gone out too much because we’ve been enjoying entertaining in our new house- we love getting some steaks from Fresh Market and grilling. The boys love Tokyo Steakhouse so we promised them dinner there once a month.

Building happiness at work and home

By Adelina Riddick, in All Communities

Schell Brothers has been proudly building homes for 20 years. Our employees wholeheartedly believe in our product and our company’s mission of creating happiness. 1 out of 4 Schell employees proudly lives in a Schell Brothers home. Read on to hear all about Josh and Natalie’s experience building happiness at work and home.

What made you choose to work for Schell?

Natalie: When I graduated from college in Worcester, MA I was working as a restaurant manager, but I had taken a licensing course to become a realtor. I didn’t want to stay in the restaurant industry and wanted to move back to the beach/Eastern shore! A neighbor at the beach worked for a new home builder and mentioned new home sales positions. It sounded like a great fit because I had been interested in real estate, so I began searching online. From this search, I found Schell Brothers online and this quickly became the builder I wanted to work for. I applied online and followed up until I got an interview! I had to start as a sales assistant in the Coffee House, but was able to move into a community sales position after my first summer.

Josh: When I first interviewed with Schell Brothers it was very early on. A lot of what excited me about Schell Brothers is the vision Chris had for what he wanted this company to be. It wasn’t as tangible as it is today but you could feel, even back then, this company was going to be different. Coming from a family that was in construction I also immediately noticed the quality of the homes was at a different level than what you typically see in a production home. Combine that with a mission of happiness and I was hooked.

How many years have you been with the company?

Natalie: Coming up on 7 years in June!

Josh: In 2 months it will be 15 years.

What is your favorite thing about working for Schell?

Natalie: The friendships and the great cultural events! I love getting together with everyone throughout the year for all of the fun events. I also love working for a company with a product that I love!

Josh: That is such an impossible question! There are just so many! If I had to choose one, I would have to say the people. The company provides an environment that really makes everyone feel like we are one big family that is all working toward the same goal. That family feeling makes you love coming to work every day. You know everyone has your back and when times get hard, professionally, or personally, this family is always there to support you without even asking. I’ve created some of my strongest friendships working at Schell and even met my wife here.

What has been your favorite volunteer opportunity?
Natalie: Schellville has to be my favorite volunteer opportunity. It’s just such a festive vibe while you’re there and it’s so amazing to see how much fun the kids are having and all of the excitement. It was also cool volunteering at Schellville when we hosted the Sussex Consortium during a daytime field trip. It was awesome for these kids to be able to enjoy a special trip to Schellville, especially considering coming during our regular open hours with so many people might not be feasible for them.

Josh: Schellville has been amazing! Seeing all the kids with the biggest smiles on their faces when they walk into the villages and having the best time is priceless. But I would have to say, my favorite opportunity was helping with the Extreme Makeover Home Edition. It was such an amazing experience to see such a big project like that come together in a week and for someone so special in the community. The family was so deserving for all the work they had done in the community and knowing that this project would only expand their outreach just made it that much more special.

Why did you pick a Schell community? What is your favorite thing about living in a Schell community?
Natalie: The main reason we picked a Schell community is because we wanted a Schell Brothers home! But it’s really nice driving into the community and having a beautiful streetscape and beautiful homes all around us. We love the amenities as well, especially with the kiddo. And love having the grass mowed for us 🙂

Josh: When you drive through a Schell community it just gives you a different feeling. They provide such beautiful curb appeal in their communities and homes that they really do stand out. You immediately can start picturing yourself living there. For us it then just came down to location and amenities. We love our neighborhood because it’s 4 miles to the beach and offers a number of pools (including an indoor pool), gym, and a nice little beach bar on the bay.

How was your home building experience?

Natalie: The selections process was pretty easy for us because we were both on the sales team and were very familiar with the floor plan and options. We decided on the structural options together pretty quickly and had a good idea of the color scheme we wanted to go with and “tiers” of design selections we wanted to stay in. Rhianna helped out a lot during our final selections appointment to pick out the things we weren’t sure of. We ended up being done with final selections before lunch! During the build process, it was so much fun watching our house go up! It’s amazing how quickly it progresses and every little change in the house was so fun and exciting to see! Especially because you are seeing all of the things you picked out turn into a reality.

Josh: We had a great building experience. The online design studio was such a great tool that allowed us to start narrowing down our design selections before our meeting. We could play with the exterior color of the home and create collages for each room so by the time we got to our final design meeting it was pretty much just confirming all our selections. Heartbeat is an amazing feature for Schell homeowners. It gives you easy access to your construction manager and provides real time updates as the home progresses. Super cool and innovative. It also made submitting any warranty items a breeze.

What is your favorite thing about your home and why?

Natalie: My favorite is the kitchen/living room space because it’s kind of the hub of the home where we spend our everyday. We love the view of the trees behind our home and there are so many windows from this space looking at that view and making it so bright and airy. We also opted to do the vaulted ceilings which makes it feel even more open. The kitchen has so much storage with our giant walk-in pantry and “command center” island. And it’s just so pretty!

Josh: The light! There are so many windows and it’s such a bright home it’s so refreshing. That combined with the open layout with the vaulted ceilings makes for the perfect living space.

Favorite memory while working for Schell?

Natalie: Meeting my husband definitely has to be the best memory from my time at Schell. But I’ve also had so many great memories at all of the Schell events with my work friends!

Josh: There are so many memories that I can’t even count them. Obviously, meeting my wife is #1 🙂 but if I had to pick a second I would have to say the first few years working at Schell was special. The country was in a recession and times were tough, to say the least. But we pulled together as a group and grinded it out to get through it. Looking back at it there was a lot of stress but we had some really amazing times together as well. There is a bond created when you’re in the trenches together going through a tough time like that. It truly creates something special.

What floor plan did you choose and why?

Natalie: We chose the Cassidy floor plan. The main reason we chose this floor plan is we really wanted a home that has a separate mudroom and laundry room. We love the big mudroom option off the garage that we can dump all of our stuff in when we get home from work and day care or when we have beach bags and coolers. With a little one and a dog this space helps keep the rest of our house less cluttered. And we wanted our laundry to be in a separate space than this. Having a ranch floor plan wasn’t ever really a “must” for us, but now that we are in a ranch floor plan we love it. When our almost-2-year-old was a baby it was great to have her bedroom on the same floor as us and keep her nearby. And now that she is a little older we love that she can get around the whole house without having to worry about the stairs. We do have the second floor bonus room upstairs, but we don’t have the basement, so our upstairs is kind of like our basement! The second floor has a big unfinished storage room which has been amazing for Christmas decorations and other storage (such as the clothes Finley grows out of daily), and we also have the finished bonus room which is our rec room that has a pool table and movie watching space.

Josh: We chose the Cassidy. We loved the kitchen and open living space, plus the high ceilings and number of windows it offered. Having a mud room and large laundry room was a big perk. We also knew we were looking to have a baby in the near future and the amount of bedrooms it offered accommodate for that as well.

As a local who is in the know, where can we find you on a Friday night? 

Natalie: We are ALWAYS at Liquid Assets and Our Harvest! These are definitely our go-to date night restaurants. In the summer you can find us on the boat any night of the week that we have good weather!

Josh: In the winter you can pretty much guarantee that you’ll find us at Our Harvest or Liquid Assets. It’s probably embarrassing how much we go there in the winter but you just can’t beat their food and drinks. In the summer, we are typically out on the boat and odds are we’ll pull up to Sunset Grill for dinner.

Building happiness at work and home

By Adelina Riddick, in All Communities

Schell Brothers has been proudly building homes for 20 years. Our employees wholeheartedly believe in our product and our company’s mission of creating happiness. 1 out of 4 Schell employees proudly lives in a Schell Brothers home. Read on to hear all about Alli Perry’s experience building happiness at work and home.

What made you choose to work for Schell?

For me, whom you work for says a lot about your character. I wanted always to be a part of a company that gives back to the community around them. I was born and raised here in Sussex County and love this community. Seeing how Schell has always given back is inspiring and a bit infectious; I wanted to be a part of that and see how I could help.

How many years have you been with the company?

It will be 7 years this coming August!

What is your favorite thing about working for Schell?

There’s honestly so much I can say here… for starters, Schell Brothers knows and loves that I have a family and am a busy mom. They respect my work-life balance and encourage spending as much time as possible with my kids. This is HUGE for me as they are my priority. I love working for Schell because we truly embrace the work hard/ play hard mentality, and, again, as a busy mom, it’s wonderful to have a company that creates opportunities for me to enjoy some time to myself! Like our awesome events! It forces me to get a sitter and head on out. I have been given opportunities to travel and experience things I would never have without this company. I know this question says favorite but there are just too many!

What has been your favorite volunteer opportunity?
Schellville! I’ve never experienced something more magical right here at the beach. To watch the kids’ faces come through the entrance is everything.

Why did you pick a Schell community? What is your favorite thing about living in a Schell community?
We were extremely picky about where we wanted to be. My husband and I tried to get as much land as possible but also find a place that felt safe and comfortable for our kids to play, for me to go on runs, etc. I cannot believe we found MORE than what we were looking for. Our site is on a cul-de-sac, and we are the only ones there. It’s surreal. My favorite thing about living in a Schell community is that all the homes are beautiful. When I’m on my runs/ walks, all I see are beautiful homes and perfect lawns! It’s great!

How was your home-building experience?

Honestly, when we built our home, everything happened quickly. I had planned on building on my family’s property, but that didn’t pan out as expected. We signed very quickly and even purchased the site before seeing it! The building process was beautiful! We loved every moment of it. We used heartbeat to communicate with our CM and received photos every single week. It also held all of our documents which was great. It was a surreal experience, and I’m forever grateful. At 27 years old, I would never have been able to settle and live in such a wonderful home!

What is your favorite thing about your home and why?

Definitely our kitchen! And my screened porch. Or maybe my homesite! It depends on whom you ask in the family haha!  But my kitchen is where the heart is in my home! My husband cooks amazing dinners, and the family hangs out in and around the kitchen while he cooks. It’s just incredible to have space for the entire family to gather together and make these memories. We entertain a lot, so our kitchen is absolutely the most used and valued place in our home. I also love my screened-in porch, having my cup of tea, lighting my propane fire table, and sitting with my cats watching the thunderstorms. But then there’s also our home site with woods surrounding us – they are incredible! It’s so hard to pick just one favorite thing about my home! I haven’t even started talking about my primary bathroom and how I feel like I’m at a resort vacation every single day I walk into it but I’ll save that for next time! 😉

Favorite memory while working for Schell?

Of my absolute favorite memories of working with Schell Brothers was performing live at the Schellies! I’ve been able to do this twice now and enjoy it more than I can put into words. My other favorite memory would be going to Firefly with the group and experiencing the super VIP life. That was something I would never forget. Or BEACH DAY!! I love beach day!

What floor plan did you choose and why?

We built The Kingfisher because it gave us ample room for our kids to grow in that home and have friends over. We wanted our primary suite on the first floor with dedicated office space for me, and I also wanted my kids on a second floor with an open loft space. The storage area that I could finish in the future to be a guest room was a plus. The playroom for the boys is my favorite room, and we also added an unfinished basement which is my husband’s man cave and where my son enjoys his bouncy house.

As a local who is in the know, where can we find you on a Friday night? 

It’s funny if you were to ask me this question four years ago, we would’ve been out at a bar enjoying everything the area has to offer, but now most Friday nights, you can typically find my husband and sons, and I at home cooking dinner in our kitchen and dancing around, cuddling on the couch in the boys’ playroom watching movies, going through the bedtime routine, and then ending the night on the screened porch or at the fire pit behind our home. We couldn’t ask for anything more. 

All in all, we are beyond grateful to be Schell Brothers homeowners, and I’m thankful that I can use this experience to help my homeowners on their home-building journey.

Holts Landing- A Great Weekend Escape

By Adelina Riddick, in All Communities

The Cape Henlopen State Park is the most well-known state park in Sussex County, but it isn’t the only wonderful area to explore here! My family and I visited Holts Landing State Park on a sunny late-March day. 

Tucked along the Indian River Bay, this 203-acre state park is packed with activities. You can easily stroll along the bay and launch a kayak or boat from inside the park. Several trails meander from water views to woods. On this day, we chose to hike the accessible ADA Seahawk Trail. It spans over wetlands and then guides you through beautiful woods with plenty of wildlife. Along the way, we spotted many turtles and a harmless snake! We identified soaring Eastern White Pines, White and Red Oaks, and many American Red Cedar trees. It was a fantastic walk, perfect for small children or older adults. It’s a great place to immerse yourself in nature for the day. 

After our hike, we enjoyed looking over the bay on the fishing pier. You can experience beautiful views of the Indian River Bay. But please note that if you want to fish, you need a license! 

There are also pavilions, plenty of picnic tables, a grill for family picnics, and an oversized firepit perfect for making smores! If you are adventuresome, there are primitive campsites available to rent during the summer. 

If you have young kids, there is a small playground for them to enjoy. There are also plenty of benches in the park that provide gorgeous scenery and views. 

Overall, this DE State Park is a hidden gem worth exploring!

And the best part, Schell Brothers’ single-family home community Marlin Chase is just 6 miles from this DE State Park.  This state park is just one of the many things that make coastal Delaware a fantastic place to call home!

Alyssa Titus- Marketing Director Schell Brothers

Thinking about purchasing an investment property?

By Adelina Riddick, in All Communities

by Natalie Hay

Want a second home for your family that can also earn you some money on the side? Here are some helpful hints on how to set your rental up for success and maximize your rental potential!

There are some key features that renters are looking for in a vacation home, and if you include these in your home it could help you increase your rental income, get booked faster, and ensure that your renters want to stay at your home time and time again! 

OUTDOOR LIVING: 

Your guests are on vacation at the beach, and most likely will want to spend as much time outside as possible. Help them enjoy their time outside by creating a great outdoor living space. Renters are looking for screened in porches and decks/patios with a table and chairs. Provide a grill so they can cook their meals outside as well. Bonus points if you have an outdoor fireplace or fire pit!

BEDROOMS:

More bedrooms and beds so you can sleep the most people will help get your home rented quickly and allow you to ask more for your rental. Especially at the beach, people often get the whole family together for vacation. Having two master-suites can also make a big difference in rentability, as two families can then rent a home together! 

DURABLE FLOORING:

When designing a home that you know will be a rental, you will want to choose selections that are more durable and don’t easily show wear. Hardwood, luxury vinyl, and tile flooring will be more durable, easier to clean, and will hold up over time. For hardwoods, choose a light color to hide the dirt and sand, and a heavy-scraped hickory or maple as it will provide a little more scratch-resistance.

FURNISHINGS: 

Nice, new furnishings and splashes of color throughout can make a rental home look much more appealing. Renters tend to gravitate towards the rentals that look nicer in the photos, and your furnishings will help a lot with this.

Include a larger table with plenty of seating- if you have room for multiple people to sleep, there should be a place for them to eat as well! 

Durability is also important when it comes to furnishings. Choose colors and fabrics that are more stain-resistant to keep the home looking fresh.

Don’t have the eye for design or don’t want to worry about it? Leave it to a professional and enlist Décor Direct Interiors to guide you in furnishing the home with pieces that are ideal for a rental property.

TECHNOLOGY:

Good WiFi is a must! Cable is great as well, but having WiFi is more important now with streaming becoming more popular. 

Include flat screen TVs connected with cable in all bedrooms if possible, and don’t forget the streaming device(s).

Bonus Points: Families will appreciate some kind of gaming system for the kids. A sound system or Bluetooth speaker would also be a big plus!

ENTERTAINMENT:

While not necessary, splurging for game tables or wet bars can set your rental apart from all of the others. Your guests are on vacation, so they will love the extra amenities in the home to enjoy their time!

OTHER CONVENIENCES:

It’s helpful to think about how you and your family use your beach home to consider what might make the stay more comfortable for your guests. 

Having a kitchen to cook your own meals is one of the main reasons people will rent a home instead of going to a hotel, so it is important to have a well-equipped kitchen. Make sure to have proper cooking equipment, utensils, and dishes for them to use.

Other conveniences that are small but should not be forgotten are things like coffee makers, bottle openers, games, movies, and other items people use on a daily basis. 

The little things will make a difference and will help your guests enjoy the experience. While you can ask them to bring their own disposables, providing them with a couple rolls of toilet paper and paper towels to get started is always appreciated.

Another tip for success: Make a welcome book for your guests with passwords and instructions on everything to make it easy for your guests to enjoy the home. Suggestions on your favorite nearby activities and restaurants is also a nice touch that your guests will appreciate.

COMMUNITY/LOCATION:

Location, location, location… Proximity and easy access to the beach, restaurants, and shopping is super important. But your guests will also enjoy amenities within the community such as a community pool to make your home an even more attractive vacation spot.

FLOOR PLANS: 

Looking for the best floor plan to purchase as an investment property? 

The Lilac & Southport plans have options for additional bedrooms, but they start off already included with 4 bedrooms! So you get a great bang for your buck as an investment property. You can also add a second owner’s suite in either of these floor plans to create space for multiple families to be comfortable and the loft area is great overflow hangout space!

The Lilac Floor Plan – Schell Brothers

The Southport Floor Plan – Schell Brothers

The Iris is another floor plan that has potential for a great rental property. This floor plan starts off with 3 bedrooms and a den, and can be expanded to add two additional bedrooms upstairs with their own on-suite bathroom! This floor plan also has a loft area which is another great living area. 

The Iris Floor Plan – Schell Brothers

Reach out today to learn more about purchasing the right investment property for your family! 

Natalie Hay

(302) 386-8231

natalie@schellbrothers.com

Marlin Chase in Ocean View (schellbrothers.com)

Blog written by Natalie Hay

Contributor, Adelina Riddick

WHAT’S NEW ON NEW ROAD?

By Adelina Riddick, in All Communities

If you haven’t checked out our ¾ estate lots on New Road, don’t wait any longer! These lots are an extremely rare opportunity for new construction, and one you can be sure you won’t see again anytime soon!  

WHAT MAKES THESE LOTS SO UNIQUE?

Not only do we rarely see ¾ acre lots for a brand-new construction home, but these lots are also located on the east side of route 1 in Lewes! So, you truly get the best of both worlds with both location and lot size. 

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

If you are familiar with Lewes, you know the east side of route one is the place to be. You can hop on your bike and jump on the trails to get to downtown Lewes and the beaches just a couple of miles away. You are also located right around the corner from groceries, restaurants, the hospital, and other conveniences. 

WHAT’S NEARBY?

When we say right around the corner, we mean right around the corner. Local, family-owned Old World Breads is located just ½ mile down the street with all the tasty sweets and fresh breads you could want. They also make fresh breakfast sandwiches and have a lunch menu!

Looking for some local beer and spirits? Beach Time Distilling is also located just ½ mile away for you to pick up some local liquor to take home with you or to try a tasting and cocktail. And Big Oyster Brewery is less than 2.5 miles away for local beer and a great lunch and dinner menu. Did we mention their backyard?! Fantastic place for you and your kids to enjoy!

1 mile away is one of our favorite seafood restaurants, Fish On. Fish On is a SoDel Concepts restaurant with a great selection of food and drinks to enjoy at their indoor or outdoor seating. We personally love enjoying their cocktails at their outdoor fire pit!

Weis grocery store and CVS Pharmacy are located just a mile away in the Village of Five Points for your everyday needs, or head just a little further up the road to Lloyd’s Market for a small-town market shopping experience.

It isn’t even close to stopping there! There are too many amazing local spots to name them all. Not sure where to go? Just head less than 3 miles down the road by bike or car to downtown Lewes historic district to walk around and stop in any of the great local shops and restaurants. 

¾ ACRES, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH ALL OF THAT SPACE?

If that isn’t enough, these lots are also NOT in an HOA community. So, you have NO HOA fee, and you have the flexibility to put in your own private backyard pool, fence in your yard, or keep your boat and RV at your property. If you do have a boat or are planning on getting one when you move to the beach, you’ll be just 3 miles away from the Lewes public boat ramps. And with an included side load garage, plus an option to add an additional 2-car detached garage, you will have plenty of room for all of the toys. 

We now only have two sites remaining in this rare opportunity! So please reach out to Josh or Natalie Hay, the community sales managers for Schell Brothers Estate Lots on New Road.

Natalie Hay

(302) 386-8231

natalie@schellbrothers.com

Josh Hay

(302) 569-9237

josh@schellbrothers.com

It Takes A Village

By Adelina Riddick, in All Communities

It can take a village to build your dream house. Just ask Michelle and Steve Levin, who just built a Schell home in the Governors community in Lewes. Their new neighbors helped them make sure it’s exactly the home they want.

The Levins had built a Schell vacation home in Bayside, and while they were very happy with their house, a visit to Governors in 2021 soon convinced them that the Lewes neighborhood was a better fit for the lifestyle they were seeking as they moved closer to retirement. “We could jump into a lot of activities,” said Steve. “It was an environment that we wanted to be part of, and we felt incredibly welcome.”

The Levins had no problem selling their Bayside home and, in a stroke of luck, found a rental right in Governors where they could stay until their new home – Steve and Michelle chose the Jasmine model – was ready.

And that’s when the fun began. As the Levins began to meet their neighbors – and join the biking group and launch another community book club – they were able to see how other families use the bright, open spaces in their new homes. “Everyone was kind enough to say, ‘Come into our house, come take a look. Here’s what we did and here’s what we got,’” Steve said.

Should they add a sunroom to the back of their new home, or a screened porch? Sunroom fans talked enthusiastically about a light-filled spot for reading a good book or enjoying a cocktail (one neighbor calls her sunroom Bar Hemingway). The Levins visited several of them at different times of the day to see how the light changed.

Team Screened Porch, on the other hand, talked up the breezes, the extra-high ceiling, and the feeling of being outdoors while protected from rain or bugs. 

Should they finish the bonus room over the garage? Some neighbors turned that space into a roomy guest room with an ensuite bath, while others furnished it as a second family room. The Levins looked at them all as they weighed their options.

They also thought about fireplaces – should they go traditional, or more modern? Their neighbors had both. They considered whether to add more windows to the upstairs bedrooms. They admired one neighbor’s built-in bookshelves and cabinets – should they add them to their own great room? 

Being able to see these spaces and features in a real home gave them much more confidence as they headed into their design meeting – when new homeowners lock in their cabinet styles, carpeting, house color, and more – in the fall.

Finally, they got the word: Schell would break ground on their new Jasmine the second week in February. The Levins watched as the excavators scooped out the dirt to form the crawlspace.

The very next day, the Levins’ friendly (and very opinionated) new neighbors – now friends – joined them for sparkling wine on the building site as everyone admired the neat hole in the ground, which in a few short months would become a stone-fronted home with an extra-long garage, great room built-ins around a modern rectangular fireplace, and a window-filled sunroom.

The Levins moved into their new home in early July. And their friends are looking forward to a July 30 dinner party in their new digs, when they will take a tour of all the rooms before settling around the dining room table to toast again.

Privacy & Peacefulness In A Small Setting

By Adelina Riddick, in All Communities

When I moved west of Route One, my family (maybe myself included) was worried. True, we were moving into a beautiful new home, but we were moving farther away from our beloved Rehoboth Beach and our favorite haunts! I assured my three girls it would be fine, but I wasn’t sure myself. 

We would zip downtown Rehoboth for dinner, walks, and shopping with ease. Now we were fifteen minutes away. That might seem like nothing to many of you, but we had ten years of history being just a short bike ride to the beach.  

I smiled and promised it would be fun! And guess what? It didn’t take long for us to adapt and find new favorite spots that were less crowded and easy to access. The best part was that we still went to Rehoboth and now even Lewes very quickly whenever we felt like something different. 

Our new spots (all at the same place:) 

J.D. Shuckers 

I love a good happy hour so finding a spot close to home was imperative! JD Shuckers fit the bill for a fantastic happy hour. On any given night, Teresa, Joey, Jamie, James, or Tommy will serve up the best drinks and a little bit of great conversation. But what I wasn’t expecting was their great food! We have fun family dinners there frequently where there is something for everyone. Most nights, “Sweeney” is producing items from their well-stocked raw bar; their fish tacos are probably my favorite in the area, and my family loves Monday night burger night!  

Green Man Café 

We spent lots of breakfasts here when we lived in Rehoboth, so when they opened right around the corner, the whole family was thrilled! From their healthy smoothies to some of our favorite lunch specials, Green Man is a healthy alternative that provides some delicious menu items. My favorites are Chopped Chickpea Salad and the Green Goddess sandwich!

Amore Pizza 

This family favorite has everything from white pizzas to classic Neapolitan pizzas to a delicious eggplant parmesan sandwich! Friday nights aren’t complete without a great dinner from Amore! Eat-in, take out, and even get delivery (west of Route One of course). 

General Store 

If you need any quick grocery supplies, stop at the General Store for last-minute items or get a prepared sandwich to go! Their subs and seafood sandwiches are unexpectedly delicious. A local secret: the back refrigerator case contains homemade sauce and fresh-made local pasta, including our favorite stuffed shells! This serves as a great last-minute homemade dinner sure to wow family and guests. 

Dollar General 

I would always advocate for the interesting local spots first! But with three teenage girls in the house, sometimes we need nail polish remover, shampoo, or other essential items! The Dollar General is a quick stop that provides grocery and beauty items in a bind. 

The thing I learned about living west of Route One is it is pretty great! There are so many things right at your fingertips, including easy shopping, restaurants, and activities like kayaking on Love Creek and hiking on the trail accessed at Dairy Farm Road. 

Schell Brother’s newest community has the best of both worlds. Tucked off Angola Road, Hailey’s Glen offers you all the privacy and peacefulness you need, this single-family home community is just ten minutes’ drive to the beautiful coastal Delaware beaches but also very close to all the favorite hidden treasures in Lewes.

We still go to Rehoboth all the time. Honestly, the drive is short and does not bother us at all, but we are away from the hustle and bustle and summer traffic!  We love living here. 

Alyssa Titus, Marketing Director at Schell Brothers.

It’s All About The Light

By Adelina Riddick, in All Communities

There’s a new Schell home model available at Peninsula Lakes, the Millsboro, Del. community that’s home to 11 ponds and is just a stone’s throw from the Indian River Bay.

The Bristol model is part of Schell’s villa home series: a twin home that offers the value of attached construction yet lives like a single-family home.

Dave and Peggy Hagerty own a Bristol in the Schell community of Jefferson Creek. And after having spent a year there, the Hagerty’s are sold on the advantages of twin home construction.

“It’s similar to being the end unit of a townhouse,” with the added available light and outdoor space, “but the amenities are like a single-family home,” says Dave Hagerty.

The Hagerty’s are part-time residents – their year-round home is in Delaware County, Pennsylvania – so buying a home with less upkeep was important to them. A big plus: “We don’t have to take care of the grass,” Dave says.

Ask Dave’s neighbor Bob Maurer what he likes the most about his home, and he answers right away. “It’s the light,” he says. “The light, the windows, the vaulted ceilings. It beams with light and we couldn’t be happier with it.”

It was their Jefferson Creek sales representative, Natalie Hay, who encouraged Bob and his wife Mary to look at a twin home. “We quickly realized that it had the same square footage as many of the single-family models, and it lived like a single-family model,” with features like a first-floor owner’s suite and a spacious kitchen. The wide, welcoming front porch is “another thing that checked the box” of features they were looking for. “We feel like we got a lot of value for the money.”

The Maurer’s visit their Bristol at least twice a month from their main residence in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., and more during the summer, although they have also come to appreciate the joys of spending time in the off-season. “The back of the house faces the west, so we get beautiful sunsets every night. We put on the fireplace in the great room and it’s a completely different kind of beach life,” Bob says.

“It’s lovely. I think it’s a much more peaceful way of life than the craziness of Northern Virginia. Delaware offers so much – not just the coastal amenities, but also the wonderful farms and country spaces right outside your door.”

The Mauer’s enjoy dinners at Our Harvest, Off the Hook, and Zoca. They’ve taken day trips to nearby towns and to Cape May, New Jersey, boarding the ferry in Lewes.

“We love the boardwalk, and taking walks in the neighborhood and along the beach and being on the water. We are creating new memories at the beach, ” Bob says.

Find your new Peninsula Lakes twin home by contacting community sales manager Josh Stone or Mollie Petrone or sign up here for an appointment.